UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his four-day visit to China after US President Donald Trump warned it was “very dangerous” for Britain to deepen business ties with Beijing.
Speaking during the trip, Starmer said the visit had delivered tangible commercial gains and argued the UK should not “stick its head in the sand” when engaging the world’s second-largest economy.
Key developments
• China agreed to cut import tariffs on British whisky from 10% to 5% and grant visa-free travel for UK nationals for stays of up to 30 days.
• AstraZeneca, the UK-based pharmaceutical firm, plans to invest $15bn in China by 2030 to expand manufacturing and R&D.
• The UK delegation included nearly 60 business leaders, aimed at boosting jobs and investment at home.
Starmer stressed the UK can maintain close security ties with the US while engaging economically with China, following talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
ℹ️ Sky News
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